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9
The Sewage Outfall Works are situated at Anchor
Bay, at the eastern end of the District, and here the
sewage is treated by means of septic tanks, aeration beds
and percolating filters, the effluent being discharged into
the River Thames.
There are 5 percolating filters with revolving distributors,
and during the year an additional one has been
commenced, and is now approaching completion.
The plant at the Works consists of:—
1 50 h.p. gas engine, working air compressors.
1 45 h.p. electrically driven air compressor.
2 Gin. and 1 4in. electrically driven centrifugal
pumps for lifting the effluent from the
septic tank to the filters.
1 4in. electrically driven portable pump for lifting
sludge,
and "Pressure" gas producing plant in duplicate
for working the gas engine.
During the year acres of land were purchased by
the Council on the west side of the Sewage Disposal
Works, for the purpose of future extension when necessary,
after an enquiry by one of the Engineers of the
Local Government Board.
The Port of London Authority periodically take
samples of the effluent from these Works for the purpose
of Analysis; but for many years past there has been no
complaint made as to the quality of the effluent discharged
into the River Thames.
There are still a few houses in Erith connected to an
old brick sewer, which discharges direct into the River
Thames. As opportunity arises, these houses are gradually
being disconnected from this old sewer, and after
reconstruction of the drainage, connected to the new
sewer; 17 houses were so connected during 1913.
There are a number of houses situated on the Marshes
where no sewer is available for their drainage, and these
are, in the majority of cases, drained into cesspools. At
the upper portion of Abbey Wood there are also a number
of houses drained into cesspools owing to there being no
sewer available. All these cesspools are emptied by the
Council when necessary, on notice of the same being
given by the tenant of the house.